# Iridium Price per kg (United States)

As of October 2026, the US benchmark price of iridium is $158,394 per kg contained. Over the past month the price has climbed +2.7%, and it is +18.8% over the year.

Source: https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/iridium-price-us
Category: Critical Minerals (https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/critical-minerals)
Lists: US Critical Minerals List, EU Critical Raw Materials Act

## Key figures

| Figure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price per kg contained | $158,394 |
| Price type | Stockatomics monthly benchmark |
| Price month | October 2026 |
| 1-month change | +2.7% |
| 6-month change | +15.3% |
| 1-year change | +18.8% |
| 5-year change | −6.2% |
| 12-month high | $163,658 |
| 12-month low | $117,384 |
| Last updated | 18 October 2026 |

## Price summary

The price is up +2.7% over the past month and +18.8% over the past year. In the past year the monthly price has moved between $117,384 and $163,658. Measured over longer windows, iridium is +18.8% on the year and −6.2% over five years.

## Iridium monthly prices

USD per kg contained, newest first.

| Month | Price | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| October 2026 | $158,394 | 0.0% |
| September 2026 | $158,394 | 0.0% |
| August 2026 | $158,394 | +2.7% |
| July 2026 | $154,204 | −5.5% |
| June 2026 | $163,165 | +39.0% |
| May 2026 | $117,384 | −27.4% |
| April 2026 | $161,689 | −1.2% |
| March 2026 | $163,658 | +19.1% |
| February 2026 | $137,430 | +16.3% |
| January 2026 | $118,148 | −20.5% |
| December 2025 | $148,667 | +5.3% |
| November 2025 | $141,174 | −1.9% |
| October 2025 | $143,870 | +1.8% |
| September 2025 | $141,284 | +6.0% |
| August 2025 | $133,279 | +4.3% |
| July 2025 | $127,797 | −5.9% |
| June 2025 | $135,822 | +4.9% |
| May 2025 | $129,484 | −6.9% |
| April 2025 | $139,153 | +1.1% |
| March 2025 | $137,660 | +0.8% |
| February 2025 | $136,509 | −1.6% |
| January 2025 | $138,658 | −4.8% |
| December 2024 | $145,721 | −1.0% |
| November 2024 | $147,236 | +5.6% |
| October 2024 | $139,474 | −2.4% |
| September 2024 | $142,896 | −1.9% |
| August 2024 | $145,606 | +12.3% |
| July 2024 | $129,660 | −7.4% |
| June 2024 | $140,096 | −4.6% |
| May 2024 | $146,907 | −5.6% |
| April 2024 | $155,606 | −3.5% |
| March 2024 | $161,240 | −2.0% |
| February 2024 | $164,548 | +6.6% |
| January 2024 | $154,374 | +10.4% |
| December 2023 | $139,859 | −8.3% |
| November 2023 | $152,585 | +9.7% |
| October 2023 | $139,046 | +44.9% |
| September 2023 | $95,941 | −24.3% |
| August 2023 | $126,705 | −19.1% |
| July 2023 | $156,535 | +42.1% |
| June 2023 | $110,149 | +33.4% |
| May 2023 | $82,596 | −24.5% |
| April 2023 | $109,427 | −17.2% |
| March 2023 | $132,168 | −3.7% |
| February 2023 | $137,312 | +10.1% |
| January 2023 | $124,754 | +20.5% |
| December 2022 | $103,521 | +3.8% |
| November 2022 | $99,725 | −17.4% |
| October 2022 | $120,761 | −6.6% |
| September 2022 | $129,277 | +19.9% |
| August 2022 | $107,859 | −10.2% |
| July 2022 | $120,055 | −20.1% |
| June 2022 | $150,198 | −8.3% |
| May 2022 | $163,838 | −3.5% |
| April 2022 | $169,823 | +96.1% |
| March 2022 | $86,582 | −4.9% |
| February 2022 | $91,067 | −9.8% |
| January 2022 | $101,009 | −21.5% |
| December 2021 | $128,654 | +2.0% |
| November 2021 | $126,166 | −16.9% |
| October 2021 | $151,878 | +14.2% |
| September 2021 | $133,019 | −21.2% |
| August 2021 | $168,835 | −2.8% |
| July 2021 | $173,627 | +0.4% |
| June 2021 | $172,890 | +7.9% |
| May 2021 | $160,195 | +4.5% |
| April 2021 | $153,274 | +32.4% |
| March 2021 | $115,774 | +5.1% |
| February 2021 | $110,199 | +143.1% |
| January 2021 | $45,334 | +28.7% |
| December 2020 | $35,219 | −28.2% |
| November 2020 | $49,023 | +10.6% |
| October 2020 | $44,328 | −1.7% |
| September 2020 | $45,115 | −6.5% |
| August 2020 | $48,240 | −4.2% |
| July 2020 | $50,344 | +23.6% |
| June 2020 | $40,738 | −16.2% |
| May 2020 | $48,638 | −1.1% |
| April 2020 | $49,185 | +19.0% |
| March 2020 | $41,342 | −14.9% |
| February 2020 | $48,571 | +7.0% |
| January 2020 | $45,392 | −4.5% |
| December 2019 | $47,551 | +1.8% |
| November 2019 | $46,731 | +7.8% |
| October 2019 | $43,367 | −1.5% |
| September 2019 | $44,036 | −6.4% |
| August 2019 | $47,024 | +16.7% |
| July 2019 | $40,304 | −2.7% |
| June 2019 | $41,405 | −5.1% |
| May 2019 | $43,630 | −9.6% |
| April 2019 | $48,282 | +15.2% |
| March 2019 | $41,898 | −12.7% |
| February 2019 | $47,998 | +3.1% |
| January 2019 | $46,574 | +10.8% |
| December 2018 | $42,025 | −6.1% |
| November 2018 | $44,737 | −3.5% |
| October 2018 | $46,356 | +3.7% |
| September 2018 | $44,716 | +10.6% |
| August 2018 | $40,419 | +14.6% |
| July 2018 | $35,271 | +4.8% |
| June 2018 | $33,651 | −8.9% |
| May 2018 | $36,937 | +32.7% |
| April 2018 | $27,833 | −8.4% |
| March 2018 | $30,398 | −2.6% |
| February 2018 | $31,222 | +1.4% |
| January 2018 | $30,804 | −3.0% |
| December 2017 | $31,757 | +1.4% |
| November 2017 | $31,317 | +3.3% |
| October 2017 | $30,319 | +9.1% |
| September 2017 | $27,791 | −6.5% |
| August 2017 | $29,734 | −1.8% |
| July 2017 | $30,277 | +6.7% |
| June 2017 | $28,373 | −2.6% |
| May 2017 | $29,138 | +4.0% |
| April 2017 | $28,004 | +15.5% |
| March 2017 | $24,242 | +6.8% |
| February 2017 | $22,699 | +11.4% |
| January 2017 | $20,377 | −4.8% |
| December 2016 | $21,394 | −9.7% |
| November 2016 | $23,692 | +20.8% |
| October 2016 | $19,609 | +4.6% |
| September 2016 | $18,749 | +3.5% |
| August 2016 | $18,109 | +12.1% |
| July 2016 | $16,156 | −1.3% |
| June 2016 | $16,370 | +2.1% |
| May 2016 | $16,037 | +0.9% |
| April 2016 | $15,896 | −2.9% |
| March 2016 | $16,379 | +1.2% |
| February 2016 | $16,184 | −1.6% |
| January 2016 | $16,442 | −2.2% |
| December 2015 | $16,808 | +6.3% |
| November 2015 | $15,813 | −2.8% |
| October 2015 | $16,267 | +1.7% |
| September 2015 | $15,998 | −8.9% |
| August 2015 | $17,567 | +2.1% |
| July 2015 | $17,206 | −4.4% |
| June 2015 | $17,993 | −1.9% |
| May 2015 | $18,341 | +6.9% |
| April 2015 | $17,151 | +13.1% |
| March 2015 | $15,169 | −23.1% |
| February 2015 | $19,718 | +4.7% |
| January 2015 | $18,836 | +13.4% |
| December 2014 | $16,608 | −9.9% |
| November 2014 | $18,437 | −2.4% |
| October 2014 | $18,893 | −3.4% |
| September 2014 | $19,549 | −8.0% |
| August 2014 | $21,247 | +9.0% |
| July 2014 | $19,486 | +8.1% |
| June 2014 | $18,023 | +1.8% |
| May 2014 | $17,701 | +11.8% |
| April 2014 | $15,828 | +8.3% |
| March 2014 | $14,612 | −3.8% |
| February 2014 | $15,192 | +15.9% |
| January 2014 | $13,113 | −12.1% |
| December 2013 | $14,914 | −5.6% |
| November 2013 | $15,798 | −27.3% |
| October 2013 | $21,744 | −8.2% |
| September 2013 | $23,694 | −13.4% |
| August 2013 | $27,371 | −6.6% |
| July 2013 | $29,315 | −7.2% |
| June 2013 | $31,593 | −0.9% |
| May 2013 | $31,878 | +12.0% |
| April 2013 | $28,462 | −13.5% |
| March 2013 | $32,892 | −0.9% |
| February 2013 | $33,182 | 0.0% |
| January 2013 | $33,192 | −0.5% |
| December 2012 | $33,374 | −3.6% |
| November 2012 | $34,610 | +4.2% |
| October 2012 | $33,206 | −4.9% |
| September 2012 | $34,917 | +1.6% |
| August 2012 | $34,351 | +0.1% |
| July 2012 | $34,317 | +14.0% |
| June 2012 | $30,090 | −14.1% |
| May 2012 | $35,022 | −0.5% |
| April 2012 | $35,181 | +11.3% |
| March 2012 | $31,611 | −9.3% |
| February 2012 | $34,836 | +4.6% |
| January 2012 | $33,305 | +1.7% |
| December 2011 | $32,746 | +10.1% |
| November 2011 | $29,748 | +144.9% |
| October 2011 | $12,146 | −65.1% |
| September 2011 | $34,833 | +119.0% |
| August 2011 | $15,905 | −51.7% |
| July 2011 | $32,951 | −1.4% |
| June 2011 | $33,403 | +26.8% |
| May 2011 | $26,334 | −7.2% |
| April 2011 | $28,383 | −10.4% |
| March 2011 | $31,677 | +30.2% |
| February 2011 | $24,326 | +12.5% |
| January 2011 | $21,624 | +38.0% |
| December 2010 | $15,671 | −31.3% |
| November 2010 | $22,808 | +1.7% |
| October 2010 | $22,424 | +0.6% |
| September 2010 | $22,293 | −3.6% |
| August 2010 | $23,134 | +4.0% |
| July 2010 | $22,242 | +13.7% |
| June 2010 | $19,557 | +28.7% |
| May 2010 | $15,198 | −1.4% |
| April 2010 | $15,412 | −0.7% |
| March 2010 | $15,527 | +21.0% |
| February 2010 | $12,834 | −4.8% |
| January 2010 | $13,487 | - |

## What iridium is used for

Iridium (Ir) is the most corrosion-resistant metal known, and among the densest. Its fastest-growing use is as the anode catalyst in **PEM electrolysers** for green hydrogen. It also sits in the **crucibles** used to grow the single crystals in phone filters and lasers, in long-life **spark plugs**, and in the electrode coatings of the chlor-alkali industry.

### Other uses

- Phosphorescent compounds in OLED displays
- Electrodes for industrial electrochemistry
- Iridium-192 sources for industrial radiography and cancer therapy
- Alloying with platinum for hardness

## Iridium supply and demand factors

Iridium is a tiny by-product of platinum mining, mainly in South Africa, so its supply cannot rise to meet demand: miners do not dig more ore for iridium alone. Demand comes from crucibles, electronics and electrochemical uses, with **green hydrogen electrolysers** as a new and potentially large source. Small changes in either side can move prices dramatically.

### What moves the price

- South African platinum mining output
- Electrolyser deployment for green hydrogen
- Crucible and electronics demand
- Recycling and thrifting of iridium in catalysts

## Iridium price history

Iridium hit record highs in 2021, when demand from electronics, crucibles and electrochemistry met a supply shortfall caused by a processing outage in South Africa. Prices eased afterwards but remain volatile, as a small market cannot easily absorb new demand from green hydrogen.

As of October 2026, the Stockatomics benchmark price is $158,394 per kg contained.

## Where iridium is produced

Iridium is a by-product of platinum mining, overwhelmingly from the Bushveld Complex of **South Africa**, with smaller amounts from **Zimbabwe** and **Russia**. Each tonne of platinum group metals concentrate yields only a little iridium, so supply cannot rise without far more platinum mining.

## Why iridium is a critical mineral

Iridium is on the **US critical minerals list**, and the platinum group metals are on the **EU critical raw materials list**. Green hydrogen electrolysers and crystal-growing crucibles have few substitutes, and supply, overwhelmingly from South Africa, cannot be increased for iridium alone.

## How the iridium benchmark price is calculated

Stockatomics publishes a monthly US benchmark price for iridium in US dollars per kg contained, reading as of October 2026. The price is for contained iridium metal, not for an electrolyser stack or a crucible.

### Converting the price

- Per troy ounce, the unit used for precious metals: divide the price per kg by 32.15

## Iridium stocks

| Company | Ticker | Exchange | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Sibanye-Stillwater](https://www.stockatomics.com/companies/sibanye-stillwater-nyse-sbsw) | SBSW | NYSE | Producer |

## FAQ

### What is the price of iridium per kg today?

As of October 2026, the US benchmark price of iridium is $158,394 per kg contained. Stockatomics updates it every month.

### Why is iridium important for hydrogen?

It is the catalyst on the anode side of PEM electrolysers, which split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

### Why is iridium supply limited?

It is a tiny by-product of platinum mining, mostly in South Africa, so supply cannot grow independently.

### What else is iridium used for?

Crucibles for growing crystals, spark plugs, electronics and electrode coatings.

### How is the iridium benchmark price calculated?

The Stockatomics benchmark for iridium is a monthly US price in US dollars per kg contained, published every month and current as of October 2026.

## Related commodities

- [Chromium price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/chromium-price-us): $1.86 per kg contained
- [Palladium price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/palladium-price-us): $41,504 per kg contained
- [Platinum price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/platinum-price-us): $53,892 per kg contained
- [Rhodium price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/rhodium-price-us): $258,682 per kg contained
- [Ruthenium price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/ruthenium-price-us): $44,386 per kg contained
- [Lithium price per kg](https://www.stockatomics.com/commodities/lithium-price-us): $89.62 per kg contained

## Sources

- U.S. trade data: the monthly iridium price.
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): the US critical minerals list.
- Company filings: the listed companies and their roles.

Last updated 18 October 2026.